At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, a dramatic race unfolds for the local heroes of all people. Already at the start there is the first blow. The world champion benefits.
It should be a great triumph, a demonstration of the new strength in Formula 1. At home, at the home race. In front of their own fans, thousands of Tifosi at the race track. But the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was a total debacle for Ferrari. When world champion Max Verstappen won in the Red Bull, both Scuderia cars went empty-handed – and how: World championship leader Charles Leclerc made a fatal spin a few laps before the end, finishing the race in sixth place. His teammate Carlos Sainz even retired right at the start after a collision.
Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez finished second, Lando Norris (McLaren) completed the podium. Sebastian Vettel put in an appealing performance in the Aston Martin, finishing eighth and scoring his first points of the season. Mick Schumacher had an unlucky race in the Haas and finished 17th.
Record world champion Lewis Hamilton also lost contact with the top: The seven-time champion dragged his Mercedes to the finish in 13th place, he was lapped by Verstappen after two thirds of the race distance. His new team-mate George Russell did some considerable damage control in fourth.
The Ferraris blundered at the start
The air temperature was almost 13 degrees, but in the crowded grandstands, on the hills, on the fences, Ferrari fever was still rampant. The scenery for the European stopover after Melbourne and before Miami could hardly have been better. And then that: Leclerc didn’t get off well at the start from second place and didn’t have a chance to attack Verstappen. Instead, the Monegasse was overtaken by Perez and Norris. Puffs of red smoke cleared the stands, and things got even worse for Ferrari.
Sainz was already in the gravel after colliding with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo. In qualifying, the Spaniard was eliminated just one day after his contract extension due to a driving error.
Orange instead of red
Mick Schumacher also spun on the drying course. From tenth on the grid, he fell far behind in the Haas. En passant, the 23-year-old damaged Fernando Alonso’s Alpine, so that the two-time champion had to park the car with a huge hole in the side box. Schumacher later spun again and was shown the black and white flag for violating the track limits. The race exclusion threatened.
Things went better for Schumacher’s compatriot Vettel two weeks after his completely screwed up personal season debut in Australia. The 34-year-old native of Hesse missed the first two races due to a corona infection and made several mistakes Down Under. Vettel presented himself in good form in Imola.
Verstappen couldn’t care less. It was already orange instead of red in qualifying and in the sprint race after the Dutchman’s victories. Unlike over the short distance on Saturday, he didn’t mess up the start this time either. In addition, Perez served as a perfect buffer after his advance from third to second after Leclerc passed Norris again to the cheers of the Italian fans.
Leclerc was helpless
Russell also worked his way up, the Mercedes newcomer had to start eleventh. Hamilton from 14, but again not much worked for the 37-year-old Brit, who also helped to improve performance by switching to dry tyres.
And Leclerc, who started the Scuderia’s home spectacle as a big favorite with two wins in three races, was not able to improve after the tire change. He came out ahead of Perez, but with the cooler tires he couldn’t counter the Mexican’s attack. Patience was now required. Or full risk: Ferrari brought Leclerc into the pits again, he got the fastest tires on it, but a little later he slipped off the track and hit the side of the wall. Leclerc was able to continue, but had to pit again and thus missed a podium place.